2017 Ford Fiesta RS: Model Info & Release Date

Although the premise of a power-packed Fiesta RS has been steeped in rumor for some time, Ford appears to have no intention of adding it for the 2017 model year.

An expanded lineup of Ford Performance vehicles like the Focus RS, Shelby GT350 and GT supercar have set the stage for exciting choices over the next several years. As for the Fiesta, Autobild reports that an RS is indeed in the works using a retuned version of the current Fiesta ST's 1.6-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine making upwards of 250 hp. However, no official details have been revealed by Ford.

Sadly, the Fiesta RS appears to be shaping up much like the Mazda Mazdaspeed3, which has been anticipated for quite some time but has failed to materialize to the chagrin of enthusiasts. Between the Fiesta ST, Focus ST and Focus RS, Ford currently has a healthy mix of choices available to shoppers cross-shopping other small, well-handling cars like the Volkswagen GTI, Subaru WRX, Toyota 86, Mazda MX-5 Miata, among others.

In terms of pricing, a future Fiesta RS would most likely command a hefty price premium over the current Fiesta ST. Given that the larger Focus RS has been officially priced $11,305 higher than the Focus ST, it's entirely possible that a Fiesta RS could potentially start in the neighborhood of $33,000.

Initial reports pegged a release date in late 2016 or early 2017, but this has not been confirmed by Ford.